Wood Nettle vs Nettle

North American woodland nettle; used by many Indigenous peoples as nutritive food and medicine for pain and arthritis via urtication.

Stinging nettle is a nutrient-rich plant found throughout temperate regions worldwide. Despite its stinging hairs, it has been used medicinally for thousands of years across European and Native American traditions. The leaves, roots, and seeds each have distinct medicinal applications.

formic acid, histamine, quercetin, rutin, iron

Chlorophyll, Beta-sitosterol, Scopoletin, Formic acid, Histamine, Serotonin

Arthritis urtication therapy by many Indigenous tribes, Nutritive spring vegetable, Pain relief via urtication, Used by Iroquois and other peoples

Allergy treatment, Joint pain relief, Urinary tonic, Blood tonic, Hair health

Urtication therapy, Nutritive, Anti-inflammatory

Seasonal allergies (hay fever), Benign prostatic hyperplasia (root), Urinary tract health, Arthritis, Nutritional supplementation

2–3 g dried leaves as tea; urtication topically

300-600mg freeze-dried leaf 2-3 times daily, or 2-4 cups tea daily

Kidney disease, Concurrent diuretics

Kidney disease, Fluid retention from heart or kidney failure

Intense sting reaction, Diuretic effects

Mild GI upset, Sweating, Skin irritation from fresh plant, Allergic reactions (rare)